Since CSL was created, there has always been a firm belief in keeping it a majority Zambian staffed organization, the most obvious reason being sustainability and ownership. Today the organization boasts only one non Zambian who is employed full time. What started as a team of 5 dedicated staff fifteen years ago, has now grown in to a team of 75. The majority of these are all law enforcement personnel (65 anti-poaching scouts), a team of human wildlife conflict mitigators, a veterinarian, a pilot, an operations manager, a CEO and an accountant.

With our headquarters being conveniently situated five minutes from the national park but comfortably amidst the Mfuwe community, we are well positioned to help tackle the current issues.

Panel of Experts

Eva Gross

Eva is an environmental scientist, with a strong interest in interdisciplinary science and the interface of nature conservation and development. After completing her studies at the University of Lüneburg, Germany she worked for Frankfurt Zoological Society from 2003 to 2008 as a manager for educational projects on wildlife conservation. In 2007 she started getting engaged for Awely, Wildlife and People on a voluntary basis, developing projects on human-wildlife conflict mitigation and the sustainable use of natural resources. In 2008 she started off as Awelys Programme Director and is since then partnering with Conservation South Luangwa.

She has developed a detailed assessment scheme for human-wildlife conflicts (HWC), which can be applied all around the world and has been tested in Zambia, Tanzania, Nepal and India. Her scopes of work are the analysis of HWCs and based on that the development and installation of applied conflict mitigation tools and their evaluation. Besides this she has developed multiple education materials on the peaceful coexistence with wildlife. For her great commitment Eva was awarded with the “Trophée de femmes“ for Germany of Yves Rocher Foundation in 2015. Eva is further doing her doctorate on human-wildlife conflicts in Asia and Africa at Goethe University Frankfurt.

Being German by birth, Eva grew up in Iran, Indonesia and Nepal but has now settled with her husband, twins and dog in Southern Germany.

Mike Labuschagne - Law Enforcement Expert

Mike’s relevant anti-poaching experience dates back to 1976 when he joined the Army. After serving as a Special Forces soldier and an Intelligence Operator in the Military he was seconded from the South African Army to the Malawi Government’s Department of National Parks and Widlife in 1996 as security advisor. This was the beginning of his conservation career that continues today. Mike has worked in the field extensively throughout Malawi, widely in Zambia and in Gonarezhou, Zimbabwe. He is currently the Program Head for the IFAW Malawi/Zambia Elephant Landscape, which will focus on Kasungu National Park (Malawi) and on Lukasuzi and Luambe National Parks, Zambia, over the next 5 years.

Michelle Campbell-Ward - Veterinary Work

Michelle Campbell-Ward is a wildlife veterinarian with a passion for conservation and animal welfare. Born and raised in Australia she developed an interest in animals and wild places from an early age. She studied zoology and veterinary medicine at the University of Sydney from 1993-2000 and after working in domestic animal practice for a number of years completed a residency in zoological medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 2007.

Michelle is a Recognised Specialist in Zoological Medicine with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network and a committee member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Chapter. She has authored many scientific publications and has regularly given presentations at international conferences.

Michelle has been employed as a veterinarian with Taronga Conservation Society Australia since 2008 and was the recipient of a Taronga fellowship to travel to Zambia and work with the CSL team in 2015. She has extensive experience in the medical and surgical care and rehabilitation of wild animals and is committed to education in this field. Reinforced by her experiences working around the globe, she strongly believes that maintaining local biodiversity in our wilderness areas is essential for the health and well-being of all communities.